Program Supports Student Achievement

Students, teachers and parents are benefitting from a new provincewide program that will support student achievement and give parents a vital window on their child's learning.

Last fall, 80 schools began registering and managing student information on one common system, iNSchool. Some parents and students in these phase one schools now have real-time access to attendance, grades, assignments, teacher comments and school bulletins.

"Families will be able to help their children achieve their best in school by having access to more information about their school lives," said Education Minister Ramona Jennex. "Teachers have access to better student data that will allow them to deliver tailored learning strategies and programs."

The program also better enables educators to identify and manage programs from students who need additional support in areas such as reading and math.

"The parent and student portals open a new avenue of communication between home and school," said Kendra Hall, a teacher at Bridgewater Junior Senior High School. "I have received positive feedback from parents and students who appreciate the convenience of being able to access up-to-date attendance and school announcements online.

"As a teacher, I find home access to my gradebook and student information helpful while marking and planning lessons."

Mary Cobb, a teacher at Sackville High School, says the program has significantly improved communication.

"I believe this will help identify areas for improvement for students and lead to greater student success," said Ms. Cobb. "Although there has been a significant learning curve, the program has improved my tracking of individual students and has allowed me to be more up to date with my marking."

"Before iNSchool, you had to wait until your next report card to know where you stood academically in your classes," said Sackville High Grade 12 student Taylor Shornys. "But with the new system you can know your current mark wherever you are. Other features that I really enjoy are the individual assignment categories. It shows what assignments you have completed, missed and what is coming up with your mark right there."

The information will provide government, teachers and administration with an understanding of how and where resources are being used and help them make decisions to use future resources wisely.

A list of schools participating in phase one is available at http://inschool.ednet.ns.ca/school.

iNSchool will be implemented provincewide over the next three years.